FromSoftware's Dodge Roll Deserves to Be Celebrated

Having spent time with the popular action RPG, or just about any action-adventure title, chances are you're familiar with the wonderful feature known as the “rolling dodge.” This defensive move allows your character to carry out a forward, sideways, or backward tumble to dodge all incoming damage and create distance from foes. Seems useful, wouldn't you say?

The dodge roll, though, has received a lot of flak, and not just because of the rolling; it's been called foolish, a cop-out, and an implausible action — and occasionally, I agree. You should see me rolling around local Doppler gangs in a well-known fantasy game — can't touch this Geralt! But this game's evasion move represents the evasion to surpass every other rolling dodges, and here's the reason.

Regarding this title, the creators discovered an excellent method to respond to all views suggesting the technique is overly simple: simply give all foes excessive power, increase it further, and each player character who approaches them will be eternally grateful for their dodge-roll ability, I'm no exception. When the stakes are this high, pulling off a perfect dodge comes across as a triumph, not a cheat.

No different defensive move in this RPG matches this feeling of accomplishment and dependability, as quick dashes provide minimal movement and blocking attempts get quickly shattered by powerful foes. A person once suggested jumping as a go-to game avoidance strategy, but besides failing to offer perfect repositioning, It wasn't clear to me receiving a fatal blow would improve my chances of overcoming challenges (inexperience, possibly).

Mastering the Technique

But even though the dodge roll grants reprieve in an otherwise brutal game, it demands ability. First of all, this title's rolling dodge merely initiates a period of immunity after you stop pressing the roll control, which stops a rapid, fearful withdrawal from perilous circumstances. Furthermore, while it might move you aside from enemies, it's far more effective to use it as an opportunity to move nearer, optimally at their back, and land some hits. Lastly, it remains necessary to comprehend and predict opponent moves, as dodging at the start of an extended wind-up might terminate your protection before the blow lands… causing significant harm.

A Well-Designed Feature

Although evasion-rolling in fast repetition may look a bit ridiculous (credit to Geralt once more), this isn't truly feasible in Elden Ring. Naturally, that fails to transform it into a plausible combat move — which is precisely why it would be pure horror to see it in a game like a realism-focused RPG — however, this is a dazzling imaginative experience we're talking about, so who cares?

Like any proper rolling dodge, Elden Ring's evasion sequence is enhanced with a little somersault-y hop at the beginning, giving it an energetic feel instead of plopping the player onto the ground. Based on your equipment, the technique may seem extremely nimble or relatively slow, but it remains faster and more fluid than the dodge rolls found in the earlier games. Certainly, you may embed your large weapon into the ground while equipped with it, but that's your own fault for failing to use ranged weapons (In jest — don't play Elden Ring with a crossbow).

The Perfect Balance

This title's evasion system forms an optimal harmony between challenge and opportunity, offering hope of victory while threatening to take that hope away at the smallest error. Learn this skill, and you'll obtain not just victory, but gratification.

Andrea Coffey
Andrea Coffey

A tech enthusiast and digital strategist with over a decade of experience in analyzing emerging technologies and their impact on daily life.